Bad Day in Blacksburg

April 16, 2007 at 6:46 pm | In History |


Campuses were always full of danger –
Walk home late at night or date a stranger,
Sop up drugs or drink too much thin beer.
But somehow, no one thought this’d happen here.

As they sat bored and only half-awake,
In classes way too early in the morning,
A pop quiz came without a moment’s warning
That no one could make up or just not take.

And yet, he only had two pistols. Why
Did so many do nothing there but die?
Aren’t desks a distance weapon? Chairs? Books, right?
If you must die, then at least try to fight….


I wasn’t there. No fair, me grading them.
Aeternam dona eis requiem.

3 Comments »

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  1. There is nothing intrinsic, of course, to Blacksburg that makes it a magnet for violent rampages. The sad thing is, the vulnerability is everywhere. I recommend reading a book called “Violence” by James Gilligan to better understand the reasons we live in a society awash in testosterone-fueled mayhem.

    Comment by Rhea — April 17, 2007 #

  2. Awash. In testosterone-fueled mayhem.

    Yup, that’s what I see every day, as I dodge bullets and cars intentionally trying to hit me, and use spinning kicks to make my way up the stairwell at work.

    No, I would submit that our society has a mental health problem and a problem facing hard decisions which might get one sued. Scarcely a testosterone problem.

    Comment by suburbanbanshee — April 19, 2007 #

  3. I would say Professor Librescu did more than just die - he gave his life to let fifteen of his students escape alive.

    Comment by Elliot — April 19, 2007 #

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